RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving capecitabine together with docetaxel works in treating patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment

No other malignancy within the past 2 years except adequately treated skin cancer or other cancer in complete remission

No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80

No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Chemotherapy

No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics

More than 4 weeks since prior flutamide

More than 6 weeks since prior bicalutamide or nilutamide

Radiotherapy

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Other

At least 28 days since prior investigational drugs for prostate cancer

No other concurrent anti-cancer therapy

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00258284